Banjul – Sporadic clashes broke out near the Gambian capital Banjul late on Monday between police and supporters of opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, who contested his defeat in presidential elections at the weekend, AFP reporters saw.
Police used tear gas against several dozen supporters of Darboe, hours after he had appealed for calm and said he would pursue his grievances in court if needed.
Red Cross workers helped people who had been affected by the tear gas.
The reason for the police intervention was not immediately clear.
Darboe’s spokesman, Amadou Scattred Janneh, attacked the action as an “unnecessary provocation”.
The crowd had gathered outside Darboe’s home and had been “largely in a celebratory mood”, he said.
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“At least 15 people suffered serious injuries and had to be evacuated by urgent medical attention,” he added.
Scattered incidents were also reported around Banjul.
AFP did not receive a reply from authorities for comment.
Barrow was returned to office in Saturday’s vote after a first five-year term that ended the 22-year dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh.
According to official results, the former property developer secured 53 percent of the vote, far ahead of Darboe’s 27.7 %.
The turnout was very high, at 87%.
How the six candidates and their supporters respond to defeat or victory are crucial factors in the immediate future of this young democracy.
ALSO READ | President Barrow wins second term in Gambia election
Darboe and two other defeated candidates have contested the outcome and said without giving details that there were potential irregularities in the ballot.
On Monday, Darboe appealed for calm and told his supporters to reject violence.
A 73-year-old attorney, who often represented Jammeh’s opponents, said he would contest the results in court “if our lawyers present to us the evidence”.
In a preliminary report, the EU observer mission said there had been “democratic headway” in The Gambia, as shown by “wide voter participation and citizen engagement”.
It added however that there were “critical gaps, restrictions, and legal uncertainties that require significant reform”.
The West African regional bloc Ecowas, in its own preliminary report, did not refer to any irregularity, but paid tribute to Gambians for having shown “great maturity… throughout this process”.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Getty Images
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